As part of our ongoing quest to get you meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world, we invited yet another passionate women entrepreneur – Pushpalatha M S for an exclusive interview with BrilliantRead Media. She is the Founder and CEO of Stratist Pvt Ltd, Co-Founder and Director of GarbhaGudi and President of IRON LADY Community. Let’s read more about her inspiring journey and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Pushpalatha:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, talk us through your background and your journey as a women entrepreneur, please;
My schooling was from various towns in and around Bangalore. Since my father was into government service, he used to get transferred to various places. Primary education was from a school St.Rita in Kunigal ( abt 60kms from Bangalore). Later shifted to Bangalore for 2years and again to Tumkur for college and Engineering. Completed my engineering from the prestigious institute – Siddaganga Institute of Technology (SIT) – Instrumentation and Electronics branch.
Even though I wasn’t good at academics in school, with constant support from parents and brother, and of course with my effort did well and topped in last semester in engineering.
Got a job in Bangalore and started my career in Embedded design and worked as a lecturer for few years. Did my Masters in BMS Institute of Technology in Power Electronics after my marriage.
Life took a turn when my husband went to Switzerland for a project and I started my entrepreneur journey by co-founding a company with my brother – Indus Technologies. Indus is the authorized distributor for various electronic components. Established very well in a male-dominated industry and took company to next level of growth.
As getting into healthcare was my passion, parallel invested in healthcare when an opportunity came up to invest. GarbhaGudi IVF Centres was established in 2011.
GarbhaGudi started to grow very well with support from founders and dedicated entrepreneurs, so started involving in day to day operations to support the expansion phase.
GarbhaGudi group of companies are a chain of fertility hospitals having 5centres in Bangalore today. We built Garbhagudi from scratch to a company of valuation around 100cr within a short span of 10years.
Now venturing into the next biggest segment in health care – Psychiatry and Mental Health.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
Entrepreneurship has always been my dream and passion. I always wanted to do something on my own. Somehow I never used to get that fulfilment when I was working. There was a strong vacuum within…Entrepreneurship completes me from a sense of accomplishment every day and brings agility from within every moment! One thing which has made a huge difference in my life is the right mentors at every stage in life.
As a child I wasn’t good at academics, so my parents and brother gave the right direction which gave a strong foundation to my life!
After my marriage and when I restarted my career, my spiritual connect Mahatria and Infinitheism instilled right value system in my life which triggered the spark of entrepreneurship!!
Later as I started my entrepreneurial journey and wanted to scale our business, Rajesh Bhat –CEO – IronLady guided me in the right direction to scale the business and my perspective towards business changed.
So it becomes really important to identify mentors, as they play a huge part in making apt decisions and guide us on the right path. Every mentor has had an immense impact and enabled be to look ahead!
‘GarbhaGudi’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving in your business?
GarbhaGudi is the cosmic womb for all parents seeking to complete their family. Garbhagudi IVF Centres are a chain of fertility hospitals known for its extraordinary success rates, ethical values, Humane touch and holistic approach towards the treatment.
We have grown Garbhagudi from scratch to a company of valuation around 100cr within a span of 9 yrs. Every Couple who walk-ins will walk out with a smile is our team’s motto.
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
Being from healthcare we totally aligned with COVID protocols.
In the wake of COVID19 pandemic, GarbhaGudi IVF Centre is following strict guidelines across all our centres to avoid COVID 19 transmission.
Below are the guidelines and protocols followed:
1) Maintained Triage area for initial screening of patients with thermal scanners.
2) Screening of patients with thermal scanners and proper sanitization.
3) Making sure every patient has answered the triage question and signed declaration consent form.
4) The social distancing of 6 feet is maintained.
5) Appointments are given at half an hour interval to avoid crowding and minimal duration of stay in hospital.
6) All staff are provided with protective equipment’s.
7) All equipment used for patients are disinfected after each use as per standard protocols.
8) Please do visit our website for more details – www.garbhagudi.com
We also launched our IPL@home service to facilitate a couple to take fertility treatment from home. This facility is introduced to give Injections, Pharma and Lab facility from the comfort of home. They need to visit our centre only for scans and OT procedures.
Doctors consultations are made online so that they can minimize COVID exposure.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
One of the key principle which has helped me: Know your strength, strengthen your strength and manage your weakness.
As leaders, we need to identify an exciting way for ourselves. I keep moving to look at the purpose and end result.
Be the best and do the best!!
How do you manage yourself and keep on going despite the challenges? What drives you?
A strong desire to make a difference in the lives of people keeps me going.
I feel coming out of comfort zones takes us to greater heights. “If it is to BE, it is up to ME”. Making things happen in the best possible way is my speciality and this attitude has helped me excel as director of operations at GarbhaGudi.
Having detangled the tight knots of personal and professional equations, today I carry the pride in saying I’m a co-founder of a company with a valuation around 100cr.
“The most delightful moments of my life is – passing on my experiences to aspiring entrepreneurs and guiding them to live their dreams”.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned about building your business?
Building a strong culture within the organization helps the team to hold to the values of the organization. A strong trained team driven with performance is the parameter for growth.
Eager to look at a different perspective and move towards common purpose and vision.
Please share with us – what has worked well for you so far?
Being ready to explore new opportunities. Willingness to come out of comfort zones and accept the challenges.
Aligning with key stakeholders and moving towards purpose keeping the END in mind.
In your opinion – what is more necessary: Idea or a good team for a successful startup?
Definitely, it is both. If you have a capable team but lack innovation or differentiation then also it is bound to fail. So it is always the combination of the team who are ready to take the mission ahead with the purpose and vision and a great idea or product which as the potential to grow multifold.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
As I said being with people, working with the team motivates me. Making a difference in the lives of people is what keeps me going.
I love my work and I always look forward to being with the team, identify the critical path to support them with their challenges.
My passion is to empower women and giving the right direction to children. I spend a lot of time and energy in this pursuit. My life’s purpose is to empower women and children to lead a holistic and value-driven life.
We would love to know your advice for all those starting out as an aspiring women entrepreneur?
“Keep moving and never stop. If a plan doesn’t work out, think of an alternative. Improvise. Keep the fire within you burning to guide you along and let it guide you even in the darkest of the moments”
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
